Fishing reel



sept. 22, 1936. F. A.' KING 2,054,823

FISHING REEL Filed July l, 1935 Patented Sept. 22,v 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT AOFFICE FISHING REEL Frank A. King, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 1, 1935, SerialA No. 29,249

y 13`Clams. (Cl.242-84.5)

This invention relates to drag and free spool shing reels, and more particularly to line tension controlling mechanism for fish line reels of a type, comprising a winding crank, including compound gearing and a spool gear journaled therein. The crank is provided with a`turnable gripping handle or knob which is both capable of driving the crank and independently adjusting the Vdrag mechanism irrespective of rotation or posil0 tion of the crank.

It is an object of this invention to provide the crank with compound gearing, which is engaged with a stationary gear and the spool gear.

Such

gears.

It is another object of this invention to provide the gearing with a novel drag construction including split or multiple ygears ofequal diameter each 1120 having an inner web which serves as a drag disk, located between complementary disks, .carried upon a drive shaft, thuscomprising a clutch drag of fewer parts and ample frictional surface.

Heretofore fishing reels have been provided with a star or pilot wheel member concentrically mounted on the Vwinding crank, for adjusting the drag mechanism.l Such members are usually yformed to conform with the limited and awkward space in which they are mounted. Since due to the central location and the form of such member it is necessary for the angler to change the position of his hand and'straddle finger the handle or the crank in making adjustments of said member,

Y which the angler sometime-s attempts to do with but one finger, the resultant being an lover tensionedv drag and a broken line.

It is therefore the broad object of this invention to overcome the above mentioned objections by providing novel construction such as a turnable handle or grip, which is capable of both driving the crank and adjusting the drag mechanism either simultaneously or independently, thus permitting a circumferential handfgrip on the drag adjusting element or grip.

45 It is another important object of this invention to provide the gearing in the drag mechanism with gear ratios commensurate with the ratio of the spool driving gears, thus causing neutral rotati'onof the grip, which coacts with the operators hand grip.

" the line tension mechanism.

Another object of this invention resides in the novelV construction of a friction pawl carrier adapted to yieldably permit retroactive movement of the crank, thus serving as a safety means to prevent breaking of the line and at the same time 55 providing a highly sensitive means for indicating the pull of the fish. v

Further objects' vand advantages will appear from the following detail description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it 10 being expressly understood,v however, that the kdrawing is designed for Vthe purpose of illustrating only and not asa definition of the limits of this invention, reference being had to the append-p ing claims for this purpose. "15

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation, parts being broken away to show a longitudinal cross section of the line controlling mechanism. v 20 y Fig. 2 is a side elevation, certain parts being removed to show the vdrive and clutch gearing.

' Fig. 3 is a cross sectional Yview taken on line 3-3 i of Fig.1 showing the friction pawl carrier.

' suitable bearings 8 and 9 respectively.

The mechanism whichl constitutes the line tension controlling mechanism of this invention is more particularly characterized as follows: -35

'I'he bearingV 8 is formed integral with member I and in the hollow of a boss I0, its outer end is slightly reduced in diameter and screw threaded thus forming a shoulder II. Abutting this shoulder and engaging the threads thereon is an internally threaded stationary gear I2. I provide a special crank I3 which is provided at one en d with a gear box I4 and at the oppolsite end is an integralv counterweight I5. Intermediate the counter-weight and the boxV the crank is formed with va hollow hub portion I6 which encircles the trunnion 6 and on which are provided ratchet teeth I'I the crank being rotatably held in place on the trunnion 6 by the gear I2 which when screwed on the bearing Ill will 50 form an abutment for the inner end of the hub I6.

In this instance the member I is provided with an annular oifset face which forms a circular recess' I8, whereon is tted a yieldable pawl carrier I9, made of suitable frlctional material and'55 cylindrical in form, which encircles the hub I6 and carries by means of pivot pin 20, a spring pressed pawl 20a, which coacts with the ratchet teeth I1 on the hub IB. Diametrically opposite the pawl 20a, the carrier is provided with a transriphery of recess I8. Such frictional tension-is adjusted to a value slightly under the ,tensile strength of the line, thus permitting retroactiverotation of the crank,V in the event k.that Vsuch value is exceeded by the pull of the iish. Other advantages will later be described.

The gear box I4 is formed with abearing 24, wherein is'located the inner end of a drive shaft 25, having an integral iiange 26. This shaft is formed with an intermediary squared portion 21 and screw threaded at the outer end thereof as indicated at 28, preferably of the left thread. Abutting the ange 26 is a spur drive gear 29, whichis provided with a recess 30, on the inner side thereof anda squaredaperture and itis united with shaft 25 by a press `rit on the'squared portion 21.

.In this instance the squared portion 21 carries a series of multiple disks 3| Vand 32, which are provided with'inwardly projecting circular hubs 33. These hubs are also provided with squared apertures which freely slide over the squared portion 21. Y

Alternately interposed with respect to disks 3| and 32 is ia plurality of disk gears 34 which are each provided with circular recesses 35 and apertures adapted to rotatably fit over the hubs 3 and the periphery of disks 3| and 32.

Mounted and keyed by key 36 is a driven spool gear 31 .which is in mesh with the disk gears 34. Preferably the disk gears are made of fiber or other suitable frictional material and thev disks 3| and'32 are made of Vsuitable metal.

VA drag adjusting gear .38 having an internally threaded hub 38a -is engaged with screw threads 28, on the drive shaft. This gear abuts the outer face 'of a hub 3|a which is formed on the disk 3|, and it will be noted, however, that relative rotation of thefadjusting gear through the medium of its screw threaded engagement with the drive shaft 25 will compress the disks 3| and 32 andthe disk gears 34 thus increasing their frictional contact sufficiently to'unite. the latter with drive'gear `29 'thus forming/a compound gear.

.It will be obvious that the teethof diskv gearsV 34 are free to shift longitudinally on the drivenV 1t is/tobe understood that rotation of thoY crank in `the direction -indicated by the Varrow .in Fig. 2 will rotate the Vdrive gear 29 around the jstationary'gear |-2 thus rotating'gearing 29,

shaft 25, gears 34 andthe'spool gear 31 thus driving the spool in a reverse direction.

Acrank is transversely drilled vand threaded as At the `radially 4outer end of gearbox I4 the indicated `at |40I whereinis screwed a headed crankpin screw 39, on which is rotatably mounted a spurl gear .413i andvaknurled .grip 4|, the inner. end?. ofv which grip 14| has lugs '42 Vmachined thereon. Such lugs are drivably engaged with a corresponding aperture 43 in the gear 40 as shown in Fig. 2. The lattergear being in mesh with the drag adjusting gear 38 and connected to the grip by the lug 42, it is therefore obvious, that a right turn of the grip 4| will act through gear 4G to turn gear 38 to the left on the left threads 28 to engage the disks 3| and 32 with the gears 34, thus forming a driving connection between Vthe crank and-the spool, for driving the spool.

A cover 44 is provided-with apertures 45 and 46 which are adapted to fit over the trunnion 6 .and the hub 38a, respectively; it also having an opening at 41 wherein is inserted a reduced shouldered end 48, of grip 4|. Ycover is formed to conform with the internal The periphery of the periphery of the gear box I4 and it is secured therein by the shouldered end 48 and a screw 49 whichl is ythreaded in the face of the crank, thus providing an outer bearing for the hub 38a and the drive shaft V25.

The operation of this invention is as follows: .The stationary gear I2 and the grip gear`4il are Vof the same `pitch diameter andthe Vdrive gear 29 and the dragV adjusting gear 38 are also of the same pitch diameter; therefore, assuming the drag to kbe engaged as stated, and the angler in the `act of cranking in the line, gearsr29 and 38 being' united by the drag function to Vdrive Vthe spool; yetidly rotate with respect to gear 40, thus tending toV effect non-rotative movement of gear 40 and the `grip V4I which cooperate with the anglers hand grip. f Y

Obviously an eiiicient free spool is provided for paying out'the line by turning thegrip 4| 'to the left to act through gear 40 to turn gear 33 to the .right on the left threads 28 to free the disks 3| and grip, the result of which will be noted by a retroactive movement of Vthe crank and .its ratchet teeth. I1 .striking'against the paw1g20a.. If the drag friction is then further'increased to'a valueexceeding the frictional resistance of the pawl carrier, the unwinding .movement of vthe spool will act through the drag mechanism including Vgears 34, shaft 25 and gear .29, thus tending to cause the latter to travel around the xed gear |2, with resultant vturning of theV crank in its `retrograde direction, this lmovement of course depending upon the amountof manual resistance oiTered by the angler to restrain suchY movement .or release the drag. This tendency of the crank to rotate in'retr'ograd'e direction serves as a warning to the angler when Ystr-ain on the line is excessive and indicates the necessity of releasing the drag toavoid breaking of the line.

Itwill .therefore be lobvious that in reeling inV the tension of the drag may easily be gaged and instantly adjusted in accordance with the pull of the fish.

Y Though there has been Yillustrated and described only one embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be capable of expression in various forms. Itis also to beunderstood that any suitable drag mechanism may be associated with the spool and controlled' by the grip through the intermediary of the crank.l Various other changes in the details of construction and arrangement of the corn-` ponent parts of the structure may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appending claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a grip drag control fishing reel, a head member, a spool journaled in said member, a crank rotatable on said member, a turnable grip associated with said crank, compound gears carried by said crank and engaged with said member and the spool, drag mechanism associated with said compound gears and grip control means for actuating said drag mechanism to disengage and engage the spool and said compound gears.

2. In a grip drag control fishing reel, a head member, a central boss on said member, a spool journaled in said boss, a crank rotatable on said boss, a turnable grip associated with said crank, gearing carried by saidcrank and engaged with said member and the spool; drag mechanism associated with said gearing,'and means associated with said grip and said drag mechanism for actuating the latter to disengage and engage said spool and said gearing. l

3. In a grip drag control fishing reel, a head member, a central boss on said member and a spool journaled therein, a crank rotatable on said boss, a pin carried by said crank, a grip turnable on said pin, compound gearing carried by said crank and engaged with said boss and said spool; drag mechanism for placing said gearing in and out of operative relation to said spool, and means associated with said grip to adjust said drag mechanism.

4. In a grip drag control fishing reel, a headV member and a spool journaled therein, a crank rotatable on said member, a turnable grip associated with said crank, a plurality of friction epioyclic gears carried by said crank, means associated with said gears drivably engaged with said spool, a series of metal drag disks associated with said gears, and means carried byV said crank and engaged with said grip for actuating said disks.

5. In a grip drag control fishing reel, a head member, a central boss on said member, a spool journaled therein, a crank provided with aV central hub portion and rotatably secured on said boss, ratchet teeth on said hub portion, a turnable grip associated with said crank, compound gears carried by said crank and engaged with said spool, a gear fixed on said boss, a friction drag mechanism intermediate said spool and said grip and associated with said compound gears and normally idly engaged with said grip, said member `provided with a circular recess encircling said ratchet teeth, a yieldable pawl carrier frictionally supported in said recess, a spring pressed pawl pivoted on said carrier and engaged with said ratchet teeth, and means for adjusting the friction of said carrier for restraining retroactive rotation of said crank.

6. A free spool shing reel comprising a head member having` a central boss, a spool having a trunnion and a pinion fixed thereon, the trunnion journaled in said boss, a rotatable crank on said boss, a stationary gear secured to said boss,

the crank provided with a gear boX at one end and a counterweight at the opposite end, gearing carried in said box and cooperatively engaged with said stationary gear and said pinion for driving the spool, a friction dragv mechanism associated with said gearing and provided with a gear having a pitch diameter equall to certain of said first mentioned gears, a manually operable grip carried by said crank, the grip provided with a gear having a pitch diameter equal to other of said rst mentioned gears, said gears of equal pitch diameter adapted to permit neutral cranking positionof said grip through the medium of said drag and said grip adapted to adjust the friction of said drag.

7. In a drag mechanism for a shing. reel having a spool, a gear xed on the spool and a plurality of disk gears in mesh therewith for driving the spool, a shaft rotatable in said gears, a series of non-rotatable disks alternatively interposed between said disk gears, a crank, a grip on said crank, and means associated with said grip to compress said disks.

8. In a fishing reel, a head member, a spool journalled in said member, a crank carried by said head member, gear connections between said crank and spool, a drag mechanism interposed in said gear connections for placing said connections in and out of operative relation to said spool and crank; a movable grip on said crank, and means connectedY to said grip for controlling said drag.

9. In a fishing reel, a head member, a spool journalled in said member, a crank carried by said head member, gear connections between said crank and spool, a drag mechanism interposed in said gear connections for placing said connections in and out of operative relation to said spool and crank, a turnable grip on said crank and means connected to said grip for controlling said drag.

10. In a fishing reel a head member, a spool journalled on said member, a crank carried by said head member, gear connections between said crank and spool, a drag mechanism interposed in said gear connections for placing, said gear connections in and out of operative relation to said crank and spool, a movable grip on said crank, means connected to said grip for controlling said drag mechanism, and a connection between said crank and head member permitting for rotation of said crank in a forward direction and frictionally resisting rotation of said crank in a retrograde direction. n

11. The structure called for in claim 10 together With means for varying the tension of said connection.

l2.`In a fishing reel, a head member, a spool journalled in saidv member, a crank carried by said head member, driving connections between said crank and spool, a ratchet carried by said crank, a pawl engaging said ratchet, a carrier for said pawl slidably carried by said head member, and means frictionally engaging said carrier with said head member.

v13. In a fishing reel, a head member, a spool journalled in said member, a crank carried by said head member; driving connections between said crank and spool, a ratchet carried by said crank, a pawl engaging said ratchet, a.carrier for said pawl turnably supported on said head member, means frictionally engaging said carrier with said head member, arid means for adjusting the frictional tension of said last named means.

` FRANK A. KING. 

